The penalty given to Max Verstappen in the United States Grand Prix was the worst decision he has ever seen, says Mercedes Formula 1 chairman Niki Lauda.
On the last lap of the race, Verstappen overtook Kimi Räikkönen’s Ferrari by coming off the track. Race stewards investigated the incident and judged that Verstappen had taken advantage while taking all four wheels off-track.
The stewards handed the Dutchman a five-second penalty which resulted in Verstappen losing the podium.
After hearing about the penalty, Lauda said: “This decision is the worst I’ve ever seen. He [Verstappen] did nothing wrong. We’re racing drivers, we’re not on a normal road.
“It’s ridiculous to destroy the sport with this kind of decision.”
Lauda reminded everyone about the decision taken in last year’s meeting which allowed drivers to race without needless meddling.
“We got the stewards in to tell us how fast stewards could go during a race,” he said. “Because it always says ‘under investigation’. So we complained about that.
“The stewards were in, [Jean] Todt asked everybody, Charlie [Whiting] was there, we were there, and there we agreed all together that unless it is dangerous, the stewards would not interfere.
“Very simple. If they drive over [each other] and go upside down, only then they [the stewards] will come in. It was the beginning of last year.”
The penalty incurred by Verstappen will bring up the issue once again for discussion Lauda assured.
“Next strategy [group] meeting we need to bring it up to the agenda and start it all over again. Because we cannot do that, it’s going too far.
“There was nothing to interfere with, it was a normal overtaking.”
Lauda believes the drivers should be given a chance to use whatever road surface they have to the best of their ability. He insists that if they want to place limits, let them build a wall instead of painting white lines.
“Charlie argues all the time there’s white lines and you cannot drive over them. Why cannot you drive over white lines if it is possible? Build a wall there if you want.
“As long as there is a normal circuit, you can use it. A white line is not a limit. We agreed on this all, last year it was all agreed. And now we get this decision. I think it’s completely wrong.”
